The former Busy Bees nursery near Ayr Hospital is now being marketed for sale after shutting unexpectedly, bringing a new chapter to a closure that left parents searching for childcare places.
The nursery closed for the final time on Friday, July 31. The report says the decision followed low attendance and ongoing recruitment issues. Parents had launched a petition seeking to reverse the closure or attract an investor who could keep the facility operating.
What happened to the nursery
Parents were reportedly given little notice before the closure. Sarah Donald, a parent, said families were left “stressed and upset”, while there were fears that staff could lose their jobs and that adults would struggle to find alternative nursery places.
The closure came despite a petition signed by 1,400 people calling for the nursery to remain open, according to an earlier report referenced in the article.
Building marketed for new use
The former nursery building has now been placed on the property market, with lets available at £50,000 a year. It is being marketed by Shepard, which directs interested parties to shepherd.co.uk for further information.
The premises include three playrooms, a dining room, staff room, office, kitchen, toilets and several storage rooms. The property could therefore be of interest to an operator looking for a ready-made childcare or children’s-services setting, although the source does not state what its next use will be.
Sarah Donald later confirmed that all staff had found new jobs elsewhere. She also said that every child aged over three had secured a place at another nursery, providing an update on the practical impact of the closure.
The original report was published by Ayr Advertiser News and identifies Adam Lyon as its Audience & Content Editor. It also notes that the article was produced through an exclusive subscriber partnership with USA Today and written by American colleagues.